AOC Warns NYC Subway Riders of Potential Risk After Daniel Penny Verdict

Following Daniel Penny’s not guilty verdict, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) issued a pointed critique of what that could mean for public safety in New York City subways. Penny, a former Marine, was acquitted on Friday in the high-profile case stemming from the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who died in May after a controversial altercation with Penny on the subway.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ocasio-Cortez expressed apprehension about Penny’s lack of remorse, calling it a troubling signal for the safety of subway riders. “If we do not want violence on the subways, and the point of our justice system is a level of accountability to prevent a person who does not have remorse about taking another person’s life, then we have failed,” she said.

AOC: The subway will be safer if we lock up people like Daniel Penny pic.twitter.com/6R5SyndtHc

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 10, 2024

Neely, who was unarmed, died after being placed in a chokehold by Penny during an incident that sparked nationwide debates about mental health, homelessness, and self-defense. Penny maintained he acted to protect other passengers, claiming Neely was acting aggressively.

Ocasio-Cortez highlighted what she perceives as the dangers posed by the verdict, stating, “Even people who have engaged in manslaughter or have taken a life accidentally express remorse. The fact that a person has expressed no remorse indicates a risk that it may happen again.”

She argued that Penny’s acquittal undermines the deterrent function of the justice system, allowing those who engage in potentially deadly actions without contrition to escape accountability.

“If we do not want to unleash that level of violence,” she continued, “then we should exert a level of accountability to prevent it from happening.”

The verdict has sparked polarized reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters of Penny view him as a Good Samaritan who acted in a difficult situation, while critics, like Ocasio-Cortez, see the outcome as emblematic of broader systemic injustices and a failure to prioritize the safety of vulnerable populations.